Soldiers win ‘Female Lightweight Category’ at Bataan Death March

Sgt. William Bolderson

11th ADA BDE Public Affairs 

Soldiers train hard to face and overcome challenges, and prove their strength, courage and perseverance to all. The annual Bataan Death March is a true test of these qualities.

The all-female team organized by 1st Lt. Brande Dietrich a Soldier from E Battery, 2nd Battalion, 43rd Air Defense Artillery, earned the first place position in the “Female Lightweight Category” at the Bataan Death March at White Sands Missile Range, March 21. They conquered the 26.2-mile course with a gun time of 6:36:35.

Brande brought together Sgt. Susana O'Grady and Pvt. Jessica Cattle from E Battery, 2-43 ADA, Staff Sgt. Rhonda Watts from Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 11th ADA Brigade, and 1st Lt. Jennet Anderson, a physician’s assistant from 125th Brigade Support Battalion, 3rd Infantry Combat Team, 1st Armor Division. The team started training in early January, and battled cold weather and rough El Paso terrains in preparation for the Bataan Death March.

“It was awesome to see all those people out there,” said O’Grady. “It felt like this motivational rush of wanting to be in the lead. Our goal was to pass everyone, opening up the road to have more room to ourselves.”

The Soldiers had additional motivational support from their pacer, 1st Lt. Marsha McLean, also a physician’s assistant from 125th BSB 3-1 AD, who gave up her team position to Cattle. McLean placed first in the ‘Military Female Heavyweight’ category with record time of 6:36:50.

“I hadn’t heard of Bataan until I arrived here and met Lieutenant McLean,” said Anderson. “From day one, she started talking about the Bataan Death March. When I started talking to my family about it, I realized that there were some scattered relatives who also survived the original march. My grandmother’s cousin, while imprisoned at the POW camp, had journals and letters that he had buried there. Unfortunately he was on one of the transport ships that were unknowingly bombed by U.S. forces. This was a great motive for me to participate and pay my respects to those who died and those who survived.”

The event also included its share of honors. Dietrich was promoted to 1st lieutenant by POW survivor Ben Steel, and McLean, after arriving to the finish line, marked the anniversary of her re-enlistment at the Bataan Death March in 2005.

“I’ve participating in this event for six years now,” said Dietrich. “The most incredible part of the Bataan Death March is getting to meet the survivors. In 2005, I was in an all female heavyweight team and we had the chance to meet the veterans. We lose more and more veterans, as time goes by, and all we’ll know of what happened will be remembered from the stories they have told.”

Teamwork and perseverance helped these Soldiers to the finish line. They have been influenced by the hardships faced by the veterans of the Bataan Death March and continue to honor their courage and sacrifice by maintaining the ‘Army Spirit.’